Tips for Bacon

How to Cook Bacon

How to Store Bacon

How to Freeze Bacon

Tip

How to Cook Bacon

Bacon is most commonly cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. If you’re opting for the former, start with a cold pan with the bacon strips touching, but not overlapping. Set the burner on low and allow the bacon to slowly release its fat. As it begins to cook, use tongs to flip the strips and fry them on their opposite sides. Continue to flip and turn until the bacon is browned evenly. Let the cooked bacon drain by carefully placing them on paper towels or a newspaper.

To cook bacon in the oven, simply line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange the bacon strips on its surface. If your baking sheet does not have grooved edges, be sure to fold the aluminum corners upwards to catch excess grease. Bake at 400°F for ten to 20 minutes (depending on your texture preference), remove, and place bacon strips on paper towels or a newspaper. The bacon will crisp as it cools.

Tip

How to Store Bacon

Pre-packaged bacon has an impressive shelf life, but not once it’s opened. While it’s best to freeze uncooked bacon, the slices can be tightly wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in a ziploc bag for up to a week. The same storage technique should also be applied to fresh bacon purchased directly from the butcher.

Tip

How to Freeze Bacon

Bacon actually holds up quite well in the freezer, though its peak flavor quality will only last one to two months. To freeze, you may keep the bacon in its original packaging, but wrap around it with another layer of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Just be sure to keep your freezer at a consistent zero degrees for optimal freezing results.

This potato salad strays from the mayo-based classic but is just as creamy and flavorful. First, cook the bacon until brown and crispy; then sauté the shallots in the bacon fat. Add some peas and mix everything together with boiled new potatoes, sour cream, a touch of heavy cream, and mint. Serve this sweet, salty, herby summertime side dish with some Oven-Fried Chicken and our Roasted Asparagus recipe.

Game plan: This salad is best served at room temperature. However, you can make it ahead, refrigerate it, and then bring it to room temperature and mix in a little extra cream before serving.

Tips for Bacon

Tip

How to Cook Bacon

Bacon is most commonly cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. If you’re opting for the former, start with a cold pan with the bacon strips touching, but not overlapping. Set the burner on low and allow the bacon to slowly release its fat. As it begins to cook, use tongs to flip the strips and fry them on their opposite sides. Continue to flip and turn until the bacon is browned evenly. Let the cooked bacon drain by carefully placing them on paper towels or a newspaper.

To cook bacon in the oven, simply line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange the bacon strips on its surface. If your baking sheet does not have grooved edges, be sure to fold the aluminum corners upwards to catch excess grease. Bake at 400°F for ten to 20 minutes (depending on your texture preference), remove, and place bacon strips on paper towels or a newspaper. The bacon will crisp as it cools.

Read More

1 of 3

Next: How to Store Bacon

Tip

How to Store Bacon

Pre-packaged bacon has an impressive shelf life, but not once it’s opened. While it’s best to freeze uncooked bacon, the slices can be tightly wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in a ziploc bag for up to a week. The same storage technique should also be applied to fresh bacon purchased directly from the butcher.

Read More

2 of 3

Next: How to Freeze Bacon

Tip

How to Freeze Bacon

Bacon actually holds up quite well in the freezer, though its peak flavor quality will only last one to two months. To freeze, you may keep the bacon in its original packaging, but wrap around it with another layer of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Just be sure to keep your freezer at a consistent zero degrees for optimal freezing results.

Read More

3 of 3

Next: How to Cook Bacon

Instructions

1Place the potatoes in a large pot filled with heavily salted water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once the water boils, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until a knife can easily be inserted into the potatoes, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and set aside until cool enough to handle.

2Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large frying pan or cast-iron skillet until well browned and crispy, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate.

3Return the pan, with the bacon fat, to medium heat and add the shallot. Season generously with salt and pepper and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

4Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the shallot-pea mixture to a large bowl to cool. Once the potatoes are cool, cut them into large dice and add them to the pea mixture. Add the sour cream, mint, heavy cream, and reserved bacon and fold until the potatoes are well coated. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve at room temperature or, if making in advance, place in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, bring to room temperature and fold in a few extra tablespoons of cream.

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